Washington, DC—Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell announced that the U.S. Senate today began the impeachment trial process for Judge Samuel Kent of Texas. The Leaders have established a bipartisan committee to investigate and present evidence prior to an impeachment trial by the full Senate, which will be held in the coming weeks. This morning the Senate received the Articles of Impeachment from the House of Representatives, which voted to impeach the judge last week.

Senator Reid said, “The Senate takes very seriously its constitutional duty to hold a trial of impeachment. Consistent with past practices, we have appointed an impeachment committee to gather the evidentiary record for the Senate. We anticipate the Committee will carry out its duties conscientiously and with all due speed.”

Members of the Committee:

Democrats

Senator Claire McCaskill, of Missouri, Chair

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, of Rhode Island

Senator Ted Kaufman, of Delaware

Senator Amy Klobuchar, of Minnesota

Senator Jeanne Shaheen, of New Hampshire

Senator Tom Udall, of New Mexico

Republicans

Senator Mel Martinez, of Florida, Vice Chair

Senator Jim DeMint, of South Carolina

Senator John Barrasso, of Wyoming

Senator Roger Wicker, of Mississippi

Senator Mike Johanns, of Nebraska

Senator James E. Risch, of Idaho

After the impeachment committee has concluded its work, it will produce a record of its proceedings and a neutral summary of the evidence for the full Senate to review. The Senate will then hold a trial, following which a vote will be held requiring two-thirds of the Senators present to convict the judge on an article of impeachment. If the Judge is convicted on any of the four articles of impeachment, he will automatically be removed from office.